Guernsey consultation on age discrimination laws

Employers, employees and islanders will be asked about the pros and cons of introducing age discrimination laws as well as other issues around people working for longer.

It is part of an Employment and Social Security Committee consultation looking at ways to tackle problems around an ageing population and the need to keep people working after the current retirement age.

Discussions will include:

Continuing to develop the island’s occupational health and wellbeing to
support people at work with health conditions and disabilities

Promoting flexible working and part time work options

Consulting on the possibility of introducing age discrimination
legislation

Providing information and advice to support people to undertake mid-life reviews to think through where they are with their career, health and
finances

Working with businesses to help them to take action by providing
information on why adapting to an ageing workforce is important

Family of poisoned dogs to claim against airport

Guernsey Press

Posted at17:3115 Jun

A claim for compensation – which could total thousands of pounds – is set to be made against Guernsey Airport by a family whose dogs were poisoned and who now have to dump dozens of bales of hay for fear of contamination.

Call for airport to 'stop shooting birds'

Conservationists are calling on Guernsey Airport authorities to stop shooting birds after 23 were killed so far this year.

The head of the airport, Colin Le Ray, says the measures prevent birds hitting aircraft and keep people safe.

All of these investments are designs to reduce that risk and ultimately we are trying to keep the public safe. The migratory season are our biggest challenge and we are seeing typically between 12 or 14 bird strikes per month.

Colin Le RayGuernsey Airport

He said they had tried fire crackers, laser to scare them and bating the voles they feed on but sometimes it was necessary to shoot them to protect the public.

Christopher Mourant, the Channel Islands representative of the British Trust for Ornithology, says Guernsey Airport needs to find alternatives.

We don't know how many birds are being killed and it is something we need to know so we can keep an eye on the effect on breeding populations.

Consultation on working into retirement

The States of Guernsey has launched a consultation to find out ways they could help people stay in work beyond the usual retirement age to help tackle the issues of an ageing population.

Called Longer Working Lives, the project will eventually lead to proposals for politicians to vote on including ways older people can be better supported in the workplace.

BBC

The workforce is ageing and we as an island need to adapt. Not only do we have older people in the population than in previous years but the State Pension Age is increasing to reflect rises in life expectancy.

Deputy Shane LangloisPresident, Committee for Employment and Social Security

Case 'not made' for FAB link on green belt land

The case for including facilities for tidal energy and the France Alderney Britain (FAB) cable link in a green belt area of Alderney haven't been made, says the Alderney planning officer.

John Young was speaking as the draft 2017 Island Land Use Plan goes out to consultation.

Mr Young says the people behind the two projects will have to make submissions to an independent planning inspector this September if they want change to the plan and be allowed to use the green belt land.

Airport criticised for poisoning voles and shooting birds

BBC Radio Guernsey

Posted at11:0115 Jun

Bird strikes are something that happens at most airports and whilst they are mostly problems without incident, sometimes they lead to serious issues.

Guernsey Airport operates a number of measures to try to get birds off the flight path such as eliminating the voles which they prey on with poison and even shooting birds of prey near the airfield during take off and landing.

General manager of Guernsey Airport Colin Le Ray says dealing with birds is costly business and culling birds is a last resort.

Channel Islands representative of the British Trust for Ornithology, Christopher Mourant said Guernsey Airport needs to find alternatives to culling birds or using poison on voles which can in turn harm the birds.

PA

We had a meeting to discuss the way forward as they were shooting birds on the airfield. Studies have proven if you shoot birds in an area other birds come into the area.

Jersey will be ‘fully represented’ in Brexit talks

Jersey Evening Post

Posted at10:5315 Jun

The External Relations Minister has said that Jersey’s best interests will be "fully represented" during Brexit negotiations – despite the sacking of the MP with responsibility for the Channel Islands’ links to the UK government.

Sarnia Cherie composer honoured on BBC Music Day

The composer of Guernsey's adopted national anthem, Sarnia Cherie, is set to be honoured by a blue plaque today as part of BBC Music Day.

Domenico Eusanio Santangelo who was born in 1882 in Italy and died in 1970 in Guernsey helped set up the Guernsey Music Society and was a supporter of the Eisteddfod in the island.

BBC

Sarnia Cherie reminds most here of times past, of the collective (stoical) island spirit during the war, of people no longer with us and of the essence that is the beautiful Channel Island of Guernsey.